In Diverse Clarkston, Many Uneasy Over New Immigration Bill

DECATUR, GA -- Sandwiched between Decatur and Stone Mountain is the most diverse city per square mile in the nation, the "Ellis Island of the South," as it is called. Clarkston is a melting pot that has welcomed immigrants for much of the city's 100-plus year history. But new policies by the Trump Administration threaten the very underpinnings of the city's rich heritage, many in the community say.

Just this week, an immigration overhaul introduced by Republican Senators David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas would make job skills -- not family ties -- a major factor on whether foreigners obtain legal permanent residency in the United States.

President Donald Trump has eagerly thrown his support behind the legislation, called the RAISE Act, touting it as a "fairer" approach that rewards immigrants in a "merit-based" system.

President Trump Announces Immigration Reform Bill

"President Trump campaigned on growing our economy and fixing our immigration system," Perdue said in a statement. "Right now, our current immigration system does not meet the needs of our economy. We want to welcome talented individuals from around the world who wish to come to the United States legally to work and make a better life for themselves.

Despite the governmental support for the bill, many in Clarkston feel that the bill is exclusionary in nature, and by extension, anti-American.

"The concern I have is that it is creating this idea that America is closing itself off to the rest of the world," Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry, a Democrat, told the Associated Press. "Who knows? The next Einstein, the next Picasso, the next Steve Jobs could be waiting in a refugee camp, they could be waiting to immigrate to this country," he said.

"Maybe they don't speak English just yet, but still that's not a reason to discount them," Terry said. He said that immigrants have made this community outside of Decatur stronger because of their contributions.

The measure comes as many Clarkston residents are still smarting from raids by federal immigration officers who carried out mass arrests in local apartment complexes as well as other parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

In May, Clarkston's City Council approved only limited cooperation with ICE agents. It remains to be seen how the new measure, when it becomes law, will be handled by Clarkston officials.

Image via Associated Press